The Executive Secretary of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Mr. Tony Uranta has carpeted a group from the region claiming to have disassociated themselves from the body.

In a chat with P.M.EXPRESS, Mr. Uranta maintained that PANDEF remained the recognised umbrella group of all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

The splinter group in their presentation had said that they were not fighting with Chief Edwin Clark as he remained their father but there was need for change in the pace of the dialogue, and PANDEF have no choice but to obey those who gave them the mandate.

Mr. Uranta however explained that there are always blacklegs in every system organised by people seeking to birth unity and progress.

He said, “When their existence is inconsequential, as in this case where our politician-brethren are using to further cavalier personal ambitions, I refuse to give them any credibility, by even dignifying their existence with positive comments.”

The Executive Secretary of PANDEF concluded by saying that all that all  Nigerians need to know, remains that PANDEF is the only  body set up by all  the people of the Niger Delta region; and, that the PANDEF Leader, to date, is Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.